Clothesline prop



Patented Apr. 13, 19216.

JAMES W. DAWSON, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

CLOTHESLINE PROP.

Application filed December 19, 1923. Serial No.l 681,504.

To all wiz-0m t may concern:

Be it known that l, JAMES W. DnwsoN, a citizen of the -United States, residing at y Chicago, in th-e county 0f Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Clothesline Prop, of which the following is a Specification.

vMy invention relates to an improved construction of clothes-line props of the variety in which the pole comprises longitudinally extensible and contractible members; and it is fully described and explained in the specilication and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is an edge view of the complete prop, showing its two members' in extended relation for use;

Figure 2 is an enlarged broken perspective View of the same;

Figure 3 is a similar view vsho-wing a U- shaped sheet-metal band connecting the two relatively slidable members, screwed through its arms to the sides of one member and projecting beyond the face of the latterto an extent adapting the ends to be folded back ear-like over the screw-heads for covering them;

Figure l is a section on line lr- 1, Fig. 2, showing the ends of the band folded back from the condition in which they are represented in Fig. 3, and

Figures 5 and 6 are sections respectively on line 5--5 and line 6 6, Fig. 2.

The pole-members 7 and 8, which are wooden bars, shown of rectangular crosssection, yare formed of relatively soft wood, Such as pine; and they are preferably of about the same length. These members are connected latwise together by means adapting the pole they form tobe readily lengthened and shortened for adjusting its length in accordance with requirement for the usual clothes-line propping or other purpose and to be releasably secured together in their yadjusted relation. The means I provide for the connecting purpose are the two pairs of sheet-metal bands 9, l0, and the single band 11, the metal of all the bands being preferably galvanized. Two of the bands 9 are applied in spaced relation to the polemem ber 8, near the lower end thereof, by causing the arms of each to embrace it, as represented, and form a. relatively deep loop 9a serving the purpose hereinafter described.

Two of the bands 10 are applied, in reverse l relation to the bands 9 and with their arms extending over the latter in registration l therewith, to the member 7 at some distance below its upper end, to cause their side-arms to embrace it at its edges and overlap those of the respectively cooperating bands 9; and

screws l2 (Fig. 5), or the like, are passed through the mutually overlapping arms of the bands 9 and 10 toalirmly secure them to the pole-member 8; whereupon the ends of the arms of the bands l() are bent backwardly to extend them over the heads of the screw-heads to lock the screws in place, and shield their heads against exposure, and particularly to prevent rust thereon from staining the clothes hung on the line that may come into contact with the screw-heads or from becoming entangled with the latter. if they were to become dislodged, as might occur unless prevented by being thus locked by the backwardly-turned ears 10a formed on the bands l0. The single band l1 is applied to the pole-member 8 to embrace it with its arms near the upper end of the member 7 to the edges of which the arms are secured, as by screws l2 in the manner represented in Fig. 3, whereupon the projecting arm-ends are bent backwardly over the screw-heads to form the shielding ears 1la (Figs. 2 and 3) for the purposes explained relative to the ears 10a.

In the band-loops 9a is confined a reinforcing block 13 of relatively hard wood, such as hard maple, containing a central threaded opening 14 to register with a similar openings 14a in the member 8, for admitting a handle-formingset-screw l5, of similar hard wood; and on one face of the member 8, near its upper end, is secured a spring clip 16.

The member 8 terminates en-d in a screw -17 for brush, window-cleaner, adapt the pole to be used for cleaning windows, walls and other objects in elevated position requiring to beV reached for the purpose from the ground or floor.

By screwing the handle l5 inwardly to bear its end against the face of the propmember 7, the latter is tightly held inthe position to which it was adjusted for lengthening or shortening the prop upon releasing that member by unscrewing the handle. To apply my device to its primary clothesine propping purpose, after adjusting the at itsk upper enabling a suitable swab, or the like to Vim members by the handle of the screw 15 to render the prop of the desired length, it is applied to the clothes-line by Catching the latter in the clip 16. This aifords the advantage over the usual V-shaped notch in the end of av clothes-line pole, of preventing accidental dislodgment from the notch of the line, which is liable to occur when the Clothes are hung in the open air, as by being swayed by Wind. My clip is sniciently rigid to hold the line in it against such accidental Withdrawal, whereas if released from the line the latter would sag and lower the Clothes hung on it to the ground with resultant soiling.

I realize that considerable variation is possible in the details of construction herein shown and described, and I do not intend to limit my invention thereto except as pointed ont 'in the appended Claim, in Which it is my intention to claim all the novelty inher ent in my invention as broadly as permissible by the state or the art.

I Claim:

A clothes-line prop having a pair of members connected by spaced loops to be relatively adjusted longitudinally, one of said members containing a threaded opening, handle-equipped means for releasably securing said members in yadjusted position, said means Comprising a block extending through a pair of said loops to bear against the outer face of said member and containing a threadedA opening to register With said first-named opening, and a grip-handle for manipulating the prop in placing it into and removing` it from operative position, said handle being provided with a. sorew-thread Working through said block-opening and in the opening in said member against the opposing faee. of the outer member.

JAMES IV. DAWSON. 

